Yoane Wissa will play no part in Brentford’s Premier League opener at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, manager Keith Andrews has confirmed.
The decision comes with the DR Congo international’s future still uncertain. Newcastle have seen a £25m bid rejected, with the Bees valuing the 28-year-old higher.
Wissa, however, is keen on a move that would give him Champions League football.
The forward left Brentford’s pre-season camp in Portugal in July after Newcastle’s offer and is understood to have threatened not to play for the club again if the transfer was blocked.
He only returned to first-team training earlier this month after talks with Andrews.
“I have made a decision he is not [available],” said Andrews. “It has been a very disrupted pre-season – I think you’re aware of that interest in Yoane.”
‘Not in the right space to play’
Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals last season as Brentford finished 10th, having joined from Lorient in August 2021.
Despite wanting to keep him, Andrews says his focus must be on players ready to perform.
“[I’m] very clear on the situation. As a head coach, I want Yoane in the building, to be a part of the first-team and the squad. I see that moving forwards but I am very understanding of his situation,” he said.
“I have a very good relationship with him, and that will persist, but we have to focus on the players who are ready to play and perform on Sunday and I don’t think Yoane’s in that space.
“For Yoane on Sunday, he won’t be involved.”
Disrupted summer for Brentford
Andrews took charge this summer after Thomas Frank’s move to Tottenham, but his first pre-season has been anything but smooth.
The Bees have lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen.
Reinforcements have included England midfielder Jordan Henderson, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and Dutch prospect Antoni Milambo.
But Andrews admits Wissa’s unresolved situation has been the biggest challenge.
“The only one who really disrupts an ideal preparation is the Yoane Wissa situation,” he said. “Is it ideal? No, it’s not.
“Would the players like him to be part of the squad? Of course they would.”
